Acan frag question

What's the best,safest way to frag 1or 2 polyps from an acan colony that is growing in the (ball formation) since I can't cut through a rock( it's growing on a large frag plug). Can I just snip it like a tulip? And how do I glue a single or double polyp to a plug?

 

No, that'll surely kill them.

You have to cut the skeleton around the polyp and remove the whole thing; polyp attached to skeleton. There are diamond blade band saws available for this purpose, and while that's the easiest way to frag most all LPS it's also the least practical for the average hobbyist. The best alternative is to use a diamond cut-off wheel on a dremel, which is designed to cut ceramics. Using a dremel like this is a bit of a learned skill, and you're likely to mess a few things up before you get it down. Meaning, I wouldn't start on an acan which is either rare or special to you.

Good luck.

 

yea I got the dremmel and diamond blade was just scared to try it, guess i'll try on a lesser 1 1st

 

Buy a reefkeep band saw if you plan on doing this on a regular basis, dremels can tend to heat up the area you are cutting too much which will result in flesh die off.

 

if you are going to frag acans, tease the polyps in completely so that there is only a skeleton and then you will have to carefully go around the skeleton very carefuly. I use the inland band saw, but you can use the dremel with a DIAMOND CUTTING WHEEL.

InlandLapidary.com

 

actually go to your LFS and ask for a dead favia skeleton. Then practice going around the skeleton